We're thrilled to announce the incredibly talented group of candidates running for our 2025 Board of Directors! Learn more about their history on the West Side and what's motivating them to volunteer in this important leadership role.
Come to our Annual Meeting on November 3rd to vote for our new board!
Interested in running for our board? Advanced applications have closed but you may still run from the floor as a write-in candidate at the Annual Meeting.
Milissa Silva
Bio: I was born and raised on the west side, my parents started our family business El Burrito Mercado 45 years ago and for the last 12 years I have held a position as CEO and have navigated through many unique situations, challenges and endeavors that keep our business vibrant and strong on the west side. We are a family woman owned business, consisting of first second and third generation family involvement that brings creative and mindful ideas to keep both our local loyal customers as well as attract new people to our business which can help the westside overall. i think it is crucial that business representation on the board is an intricate part of the overall neighborhood vitality and growth. I believe my experience, and my care about our community will be of benefit as issues and discussions and votes are made by the board.
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board: As a business owner of the westside I believe I bring other perspectives to the overall good of our vibrant district. I'm excited to be an active member of the WS Business Coalition!
Values: As a business that employs over 90 people on the westside, and brings thousands of new people to visit the westside annually through our business, it's important to me that all the elements that make the westside unique are showcased and strengthened to keep it an overall vibrant community for its residents and the businesses.
Strengths: I have a strong background and experience (and connections) in marketing and public relations, and my experience as an entrepreneur keeps me on my toes to think creatively for conflict resolution, problem solving and working through challenges.
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: I hope to have an increased understanding of the impactful decisions WSCO makes for our community and learn how to better leverage together as a community organization our strength and influence for governmental change, growth and support opportunities.
Santino Franco
Bio: Hello , my name is Santino Franco I’m a lifelong Westsider and for the past twenty six years I’ve been a coach, mentor and advocate for our Westside community. I would like to continue advocating for our community ensuring we have a seat and a voice at the city of St Paul’s political table .
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board:
I would like to be a little more active on the political front of the community .
Values: Sitting on a neighborhood board you have to separate personal values and ideals for the betterment of the community .
Strengths: Leadership & understanding of the neighborhood
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: Better understanding of local government
Miguel Brito
Bio: I was born and raised on the Westside and have seen many changes shape our community over the years. This neighborhood has given me opportunities I never imagined, including the chance to connect with mentors, activists, and political leaders. My goal as a board member is to help build the next generation of Westside leaders and foster a community that celebrates its diversity and bridges language barriers.
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board: As someone born and raised on the Westside and a former WSCO board member, I want to reconnect with my community and continue working toward an equitable Westside that represents all. Serving on the board would allow me to support efforts that make the Westside more inclusive and empower everyone.
Values: I firmly believe in open-mindedness and communication. Every resident deserves to be heard and to be informed about what’s happening in their community. I value inclusion and transparency and will work to ensure others have the opportunity to participate in our community.
Strengths: In my role as a recreation leader at El Rio Recreation Center, I’ve connected with families and youth across the community. Having served on WSCO's board before, I have some understanding of meeting procedures and organizational needs. I also bring marketing experience and a background in public engagement.
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: I’m excited for a second chance to serve as an adult. WSCO helped me grow as a youth, and I know this opportunity will introduce me to more mentors, leaders, and formal pieces of training that will further develop my leadership skills.
Sheila Evans
Bio: I am a longtime resident of the Westside. Wife of 34 years, mother, grandmother. I am the founder of Chica’s De Color, we work as a fundraiser group to support our community. Volunteer with Humboldt Prom, Athletics & PTO, Westside Boosters and feed the hungry in Castillo Park. Currently working on a drop in shelter for anyone in need called Sheila’s Sharing Space.
Values: Family
Strengths: Energy and community connection
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: Team effort from our community
Nate Giles
Bio: I was born and raised on the east side but my mother always brought me to the west side to buy yerba mate (as she was from Chile and grandmother was from Argentina). I always appreciated the murals and amazing Sun we would see on Robert street as we drove through. I have moved around Saint Paul over the years, and even did a stint in Michigan. My wife and I visited many neighborhoods and realized that we really like the west side and Cherokee Park’s proximity to the smith bridge and other amazing views. Although I have been a special education teacher for 8 years and have moved districts over my 15 years in education, I have never lost my passion and interest in improving saint paul, which is what I know WSCO does day in and day out. I would like to be a part of solutions for saint paul and would be a great steward of this responsibility. I got involved in WSCO due to my interest in a pedestrian bridge downtown at Harriet Island, but also have interests in safety, community social connections and economic development. I believe that as a WSCO member I could continue to build on my open mindedness and skills of recruitment to involve more people in WSCO initiatives, not just limited to my own bridge concept! I really care about finding ideas that others are passionate about and trying to integrate them with my own understanding of the world that surrounds us!
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board: I am interested in serving because WSCO really seeks to meet west siders where they are and include as many people as possible in their decision making by receiving significant amounts of feedback from the community. I’ve seen WSCO members really engage in significant amounts of outreach, and leverage resources and support from providers in a variety of sectors including private, governmental, nonprofit and public organizations, and encourage them to engage with the community in significant ways. I’m excited to learn more about WSCO’s ability to influence policy for the city as the planning council. I’ve seen WSCO members fiercely advocate for policies that benefit West siders, and inform the community about large scale and small scale changes, while providing a watchful eye to make sure progress beneficial to the people is made!
Values: Personally I value connection to community and others around you along with doing your best to connect with your loved ones, family, friends and community, and have positive and sustainable impact in any large or small ways that you can. I value being open minded and entertaining someone else’s idea, even if you don’t accept it, in as respectful a way as possible. I believe in advocating for yourself tactfully. I believe in sharing time speaking or tabling something for a more productive time, but making sure people have a path to getting their ideas heard means a lot to me! Leaving things the same or better is a goal of mine in all things and I’m sure a goal you all share! I would use these values to really make sure I included members and community members ideas as much as feasible (in continuance of what has already happened) while also being able to help guide conversations about sustainability of ideas and sharing my rationale if I have a slight disagreement about something.
Strengths: I am very open to opinions that differ from my own and I seek to find sustainable ways to encourage efficient discussion and communication, even if that ends up in me having less of a time to talk. I want to encourage more participation while still finding ways to work with one another that lead to productivity. I like to be a cheerleader and encourager so anytime that I can be positive and it’s appropriate I will try to do that. I am very interested in recruiting and am excited to reach out to people whenever I am able so I hope that is an additional strength. I like finding creative solutions or at least hearing the opinion of others while letting things go if hearing feedback and reflecting and realizing I should try something new or move on from my previous position. I like using data and thinking through the counter argument against my position (not just for it). I like considering the pros and cons of actions to economize time and improve potential outcomes!
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: I hope to be pushed to learn many procedural meeting rules and practices as well as specific ways to really achieve tasks and involve the community in a productive way as WSCO does. I think WSCO will help me grow in many known and unknown ways that could help me as I continue to improve as a leader and give me a better venue to put my hope to become a better servant leadership into practice. I think WSCO helps me to learn more about the interests of the rest of the community and WSCO pushes me to consider many more perspectives that I would on my own, while also being small enough to feel like I am a large part of the local community. WSCO members can and will give me constructive feedback (that can help me know when I am doing something right and when I’m doing something that they would like to be improved. I’m not worried about getting real feedback from those involved in WSCO and I know that we can respectfully share opinions and collaborate while finding productive ways to come to understandings that allow us to move forward on a variety of topics! I’m honored to be considered! I’ll continue to be involved as much as I can no matter the outcome!
Joy Sorensen Navarre
Bio: I am willing to serve if the community thinks it would be helpful at this time. In the past I served as Ex-Officio member of WSCO's board. In the summer of 2023 I served as interim Executive Director of WSCO during Monica's sabbatical. I am an active participant in the Land Use Action Circle. I am involved in fund development at WSCO. I own and run a business. My husband and I've lived and raised our kids and grandkids on the West Side for more than 30 years. I feel proud of the history of WSCO.
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board: These things excite me about WSCO's work: Redress for the families from the Flats. Making sure our neighbors benefit from the economic investment here. Supporting local business development. Making Robert Street a Destination. The Tenant Union. Community organizing for power excites me about our mission. WSCO is in a time of rebuilding. The recent leadership conflict concerns me. I wish to be part of the healing and rebuilding.
Values: I believe that organizing to build power is the best pathway to a strong community. I bring a racial equity lens to the work. I value youth experiences and voices.
Strengths: I know how to read financial statements. I have 3 decades executive leadership experience in nonprofit organizations and business. I am action oriented, and like to get things done. I value collaboration.
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: I hope to gain new relationships with west siders and deepen existing relationships. WSCO can help me grow as a leader as I mentor others who may be new to board service, especially related to understanding the financial statements.
Sebastian Ellefson
Bio: I moved to the west side with my wife in 2017. We now have two kids (3 and 6 year old), the oldest of whom goes to Riverview Elementary. I work as an attorney for the Volunteer Lawyers Network, helping low-income individuals face legal challenges.
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board: I want to continue to important work we are doing. I want to connect West siders with knowledge, resources, decision making power, and one another.
Values: I think it is our duty to help others as we can, to make decisions keeping not just yourself but your community and the world world in mind. I value being connected with nature and knowing your neighbors.
Strengths: Commitment, past board experience, legal knowledge
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: I look forward to continuing to learn more about grassroots organizing, as well as how local government operates.
Lawrence A. Lucio
Bio: I worked at Neighborhood House as a youth organizer, I was the first director of El Rio Vista playground, I was the first director of the West Side Youth Service Bureau, I was a guidance counselor at Roosevelt Jr. High / Humboldt Jr. High for 16 years, I was principal of Northeast Middle School for 6 years, principal of Humboldt High School for 2 years, principal of Edison High School for 10 years, and principal of Stadium View School for 6 years. I was a co-founder of the West Side Booster Club and coached in the WSB for 35 years.
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board:
I have spent 56 of my 74 years of life working in some capacity of community organizing on the West Side. There is still much to be done regarding the mission and work of WSCO, hopefully I could help the organization continue on with various initiatives.
Values: All decisions should be made in the best interests of the community.
Strengths: I have extensive community organizing experience. Areas of emphasis are youth, adjudicated youth, families and public education.
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: Working in my community and helping to mentor young people from our community.
Nancy Negrette
Bio: I work at WestSide HairCare Salon and self employed business owner. I have worked here since 99 and live here off and on. My father is from the old Westside and my mother is from RedLake. I am currently in school to finish my pathway to nursing school, I also work at Planned Parenthood full time. Most of my employment is community service or healthcare. Doing hair is my art passion. I was born in Milwaukee Wis., but have been in St. Paul since 78. I have strong ties with this area especially knowing this is Dakota land. My grandmother was Lakota, so being indigenous from the south and north I love this area especially the Mississippi.
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board: I like to work and discuss changes and improvements for our community and my business at WestSide HairCare Salon
Values: Ethical and open minded to all situations
Strengths: I like to show up to support my community and team. I have a voice with lots of questions and like to advocate for the introverted neighbors
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: Hopefully to run for office one day if I aquire good communication skills and community organizational skills
Jeannine Pohl
Bio: Hello, West Siders! I'm Jeannine Pohl, owner of Block Portrait Studios. Since 2015, I have had my portrait studio and lived in this amazing little part of the world. That view from the High Bridge grounds me regularly as I think about all the amazing things people do in this world. We have the best neighborhoods with parks, restaurants, gardens, festivals, parades, businesses, art, history, and people. As a portrait artist, I've had the honor of meeting a lot of West Siders. Everyone has such unique stories, rich experiences and beautiful dreams. This little community where my husband and I have chose to raise our son means so much to us. I know making small ripples like being on a board with Wsco can make waves in the community we live in.
Why I want to serve on WSCO’s board: I love the West Side as I live and have my business here. I think community organizations are impactful way of making progress in larger governments.
Values: I believe it’s important to serve in community when you are able. I am a creative business owner who loves my little nook of Saint Paul and wants to see my neighbors thrive and be celebrated at any age, ethnicity, orientation, and demographics.
Strengths: Investment in the infrastructure and vibrancy of the west side. My strengths are futuristic, connection and maximizer. I find innovative ways to approach issues and like to see others succeed.
What I hope to gain from serving on WSCO’s board: By serving on the community board, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face as a neighborhood. This experience will allow me to engage directly with issues that impact the everyday lives of West Siders, from local development and housing concerns to arts and cultural events that bring our community together. It's an opportunity to listen to different perspectives, advocate for positive change, and contribute to the collective vision for our neighborhood's future.
Being part of WSCO (West Side Community Organization) can also help me grow as a leader by honing my ability to collaborate with others, navigate complex community issues, and make informed decisions that benefit everyone. I believe leadership is about learning and listening, and WSCO will give me the platform to do both, while providing mentorship and access to resources that can enhance my skills. Through this experience, I hope to become a stronger advocate for the community, ensuring that all voices are heard and that our neighborhood remains vibrant and inclusive.